Snow storms batter Canada and US

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Tens of thousands of people were left without power after a late winter storm swept eastwards across with heavy snowfall and strong winds.

Ontario and Quebec were among the areas buffeted by the blizzards that knocked out electricity and disrupted travel.

In the US, crews were working overtime to clear up after a huge storm hit parts of the Midwest at the weekend.

Among the worst-hit areas was Ohio, with the capita, Columbus, seeing a record 20 inches (50cm) of snow.

Four people were reported to have died in Ohio while shovelling snow. Another person was said to have died in a traffic accident caused by the bad weather.

Two deaths were blamed on the storm in New York state and one in Tennessee, the Associated Press reported.

'Fed up'

The snow was preceded by freezing rain, ice and sleet that swept an area from eastern Kentucky into New York state.

<a class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7286339.stm">In pictures: N America snow</a><a class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7286483.stm">Your pictures: snow storms</a>

The central United States and parts of Canada have suffered one of their worst seasons of winter weather in years.

In Canada, air traffic via Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa was disrupted by the same storm system that hit Ohio.

Over the weekend, blizzards and high winds swept over Ontario and Quebec, temporarily knocking out electricity to some 80,000 homes and businesses.

Road and air transport was severely disrupted.

By Sunday, the storm was moving into Canada's Atlantic region.

A young boy was reported to have died in New Brunswick, which saw up to 40cm of snow.

"As soon as the snow from one storm turns brown, more snow arrives," Environment Canada meteorologist Guy Roussel told the Globe and Mail newspaper.

"People in New Brunswick are fed up with winter. They're buried in snow. They're just waiting for spring."

Forecasters said the storm, which was at its fiercest over Ontario and Quebec, was gradually losing strength.

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Your comments:

I have lived in Ohio all my life, and in all my 52 years I have never seen anything like this. There were drifts up against my doors, and it was impossible to get anywhere. The storm started Friday, and there was not a snow plough to be seen on my street (a major street) until Saturday at 4:00 pm. Churches, malls, libraries and just about everything else shut down. I have not seen this city come to such a standstill since 9/11. This was a storm of the century, and I will not see another like it in my lifetime. Luckily I was prepared, and able to ride it out in the warmth and comfort of my own home, along with my 10 cats.<i>Ginger-Lyn Summer, Columbus, Ohio, USA</i>

Louisville had about 14 inches - it started snowing Friday at about 8am and didn't stop until lunch-time Saturday. This is the most snow I've seen in the eight years I've lived here.<i>Dr Paul Pearson, Louisville, Kentucky</i>

We had 50 cm overnight and are going nowhere until the plough comes. The streets were already down to half width as this was the second most snow in a season before this storm. I've cleared my roof three times and there is another meter in paces again. If this is global warming, I want a refund.<i>Peter Foulger, Ottawa, ON, Canada</i>

We have had a near record snow fall here this year and the snow banks down the driveway are above our heads. The last two days we have had a large dumping that has drifted and our street door is blocked, so the only way out at the moment is via the garage door. My wife was due to leave for cruise out of Florida this morning, most flights out of Ottawa are cancelled and the cruise has been missed. The plan now is to get a train to Montreal and fly to St Thomas in the USVI on Monday and get on the ship Tuesday or Wednesday.<i>John Murray, Nepean, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada</i>

Toronto and mid south of Canada around the Great Lakes area had one of the worst snow fall in record. Heavy snow has been piling up along highways and all roads for the last two months. How long will this last is the question in every bodies' minds. Another killing problem is the sky rocking of oil prices making driving very expensive in this harsh winter days. <i>Sinnathamby Sundaralingam, Toronto, Canada</i>

Well, moving to Chicago after 17 years in Alabama looking forward to snow, if this is the worst Chicago can do in 20 years I'm sorely disappointed. I expected the odd six-foot drift, but not even a single flake today! Lucky Ohio I say.<i>Steve Rawnsley, Chicago USA</i>

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